Locating and locking devices

ABSTRACT

A locating and locking device, for fitting to a freight container transport vehicle, comprises a mounting body for fitting to the vehicle and within which is housed a container locating body from the upper end of which projects the head of a rotary locking bolt mounted in the body. The bolt is rotatable manually between locking and unlocked positions and the locating body is movable within the housing between two levels, namely an upper level providing a locating position in which it projects above the housing and a lower level providing a retracted position below the upper surface of the body. The body is formed on one side for engagement with the adjacent side of the locating body to retain the latter in the locating position, and means are provided which act to retain the locating body towards said side of the body in order to maintain said engagement therewith and which are manually operable to allow the body to be disengaged for movement between said locating and retracted positions.

United States Patent [72] lnventors Cyril Edward Charles Erith 7 St.John 5 Ave., Churchdown, Gloucester; Gordon Charles Elkins, BengroveFarm, Teddington, Tewkesbury, England [21] Appl. No. 831,506

[22] Filed June 9, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [32] Priority June15, 1968, Nov. 26, 1968, Feb. 18,

[33] Great Britain [31] 28613/68, 55932/68 and 8687/69 [54] LOCATING ANDLOCKING DEVICES 361A; l05/369A, 368T, 366.4, 366.6, 366.8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,147,005 9/1964 MillerPrimary Examiner-Chancellor E. Harris Anomey-Young and ThompsonABSTRACT: A locating and locking device, for fitting to a freightcontainer transport vehicle, comprises a mounting body for fitting tothe vehicle and within which is housed a container locating body fromthe upper end of which projects the head of a rotary locking boltmounted in the body. The bolt is rotatable manually between locking andunlocked positions and the locating body is movable within the housingbetween two levels, namely an upper level providing a locating positionin which it projects above the housing and a lower level providing aretracted position below the upper surface of the body. The body isformed on one side for engagement with the adjacent side of the locatingbody to retain the latter in the locating position, and means areprovided which act to retain the locating body towards said side of thebody in order to maintain said engagement therewith and which aremanually operable to allow the body to be disengaged for movementbetween said locating and retracted positions.

LOCATING AND LOCKING DEVICES This invention relates to devices for useto locate and lock transport containers in position on vehicle trailersand the like. I

The use of freight containers is now widespread and increasing daily,particularly for international transport, using con' tainers built toI.S.O. standards. These standards lay down not only the size andexternal dimensions 'of standard containers but also the form of cornercastings to be used, andnew and converted vehicle trailers are now beingfitted at suitable positions with devices which engage the bottom cornercastings of a container thereby to both locate and hold down the latter.

According to the invention a locating and locking device for fitting toa freight container transport vehicle comprises a mounting body forfitting to the vehicle and within which is housed a container locatingbody from the upper end of which projects the head of a rotary lockingbolt mounted in the locating body, the bolt being rotatable manuallybetween locking and unlocked positions and the locating body beingmovable within the housing between two levels, namely an upper levelproviding a locating position in which it projects above the housing anda lower level providing a retracted position below. the upper surface ofthe mounting body, the mounting body being formed on one side forengagement with the adjacent side of the locating body to retain thelatter in the locatingposition, and means which act to retain thelocating body towards said side of the mounting body in order tomaintainsaid engagement therewith and which are manually operable toallow the locating body to be disengaged for movement in the mountingbody between said locating and retracted positions. i Preferably saidengagement of the two bodies is provided by a recess or aperture in themounting body which is engaged by a projection on the adjacent side ofthe locating body, which projection is desirably in the form of arectangular block. The mounting body may be a casting, but in preferredembodiments is a steel fabrication with a backplate which is utilizedfor mounting purposes and in which an aperture to suit the locating bodyprojection is formed.

The means which act to retain the locating body, in a preferredembodiment, take the form of a locking bar or rod which extendshorizontally and laterally'of the locating body, this bar or rod beingurged by gravity to a lower retaining position and being liftable byhand to an upper inoperative position in which it provides adequateclearance for the locating body to be disengaged from the backplate andretracted. The bar or rod projects at both sides of the mounting body,and has end flanges by which it is retained and by which it can begripped and lifted. Thus it is of generally dumbbell shape, and it ismovable in generally vertical slots in the sidewalls of the mountingbody, which slots are preferably of increased width at the upper ends toprovide said adequate clearance for retraction of the locating body.Alternatively, the same result may be achieved by using inclined slotsof constant width.

The means which act .to retain the locating body may alternativelycomprise a locking shaft which operates in the manner of an eccentricand engages the locating body on the opposite side thereof, this shaftbeing rotatable to an unlocked position in which it allows adequateclearance for movement of the locating body sufficient to free theretaining projection from the corresponding recess or aperture, ordisengage whatever other engaging formation may be used, and thus allowmovement to the retracted position. The bolt will normally have anoperating handle which projects horizontally at its lower end, andalthough it is preferred that a separate locking shaft with its ownhandle or a locking bar should be employed the arrangement mayalternatively be such that one-handle operation is provided. In thiscase turning of the bolt handle may operate, through rotary cam means,to urge the locating body to said one side of the mounting body and intoretaining engagement therewith.

The locking shaft when such provided is preferably disposedhorizontally, with the associated handle at one end, and prothe lockingor the unlocking position, and the eccentric action may be provided by aprojecting platelike rib which is disposed longitudinally and projectsradially from the shaft. The locking shaft and the bolt are preferablyboth provided with handles which in the unlocked position projecthorizontally out of the mounting body so as to give a visible indicationthat they are not in the locking positions.

Preferably the locating body, bolt and locking handles are completelyremovable from the mounting as a central assembly, and for this purposethey desirably drop down out through the bottom of the mounting body.Thus when the vehicle is to be used for more conventional purposes. i.e.not as a container transporter; the central assemblies can be removedand transferred to another vehicle which is to be used as a containertransporter, and hence all vehicles need not be provided with a completeset of devices. In addition,

the mountings can readily,be cast or fabricated in a form 1 cheap enoughfor them to be fitted as standard to all vehicles by the manufacturer,the central assemblies being supplied as an extra only if required witha new vehicle or as an accessory at a later date. This construction alsohas the advantage that the mounting does not cbllect water or dirt, orbecome clogged or fouled up, as the mounting body can readily be madesuch that there is ample clearance for any rain and normal dirt to fallthrough even if the central assembly is present in the retractedposition. If, any dirt should lodge it can easily be removed with a wirebrush if the assembly is dropped out.

Preferably the side of the mounting body provided with the apertureengaged by the locating body projection to retain the latter in thelocating position, when such an engaging formation is used, has a secondaperture which-is used to locate the body in the retracted position.This aperture may be provided by a cutout section at the top edge ofsaid backplate and be arranged for engagement by the head of the bolt ifthe central assembly is dropped down from the locating position with thebolt in the locking position and after the locking shaft (or bar) hasbeen moved to the unlocked position. With such a construction locationin the retracted position is desirably assisted by engagement of saidprojection of the locating body beneath the apertured side of themounting body so that when the assembly is retracted it can be droppedright down and completely removed by turning the bolt to the unlockedposition.

If it is desired means may be provided to prevent removal of theassembly in one movement from the locating position with the lockingshaft (or bar) and the bolt both moved to the unlocked positions; suchmeans preclude such removal inadvertently or the assembly dropping outaccidentally when traveling, and in a preferred fon'n comprise anabutment which fouls the bolt handle when the latter is in the unlockedposition before the assembly has been tilted sufficiently within themounting for the locating body projection to be disengaged. Thisabutment may be provided by a bar welded across the mounting bodyimmediately above the bolt handle. Alternatively there may be provided agroove in the locating body and fouls the head of the locking bolt ifthe assembly is lowered when the bolt is in the unlocked position.

The locating body is preferably in the form of a truncated cylinder,i.e. with concentric and part-cylindrical opposite sidewallsinterconnected by two-plane parallel walls, and the head of the bolt isdesirably of known elongated ridgelike shape which closely overlies andfits the described body shape in the unlocked position and projects atright angles thereto in the locking position.

One form of locating and locking device in accordance with the inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will now be described byway of example. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the device,

FIG. 2 is a side view partly cut away and sectioned on the line lI-ll inFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a plan view,

FIG. 4 is an underneath view, and

FIG. is the same view as FIG. 2 but illustrates the device with acentral locating and locking assembly thereof in a retracted position. i

A fabricated mounting body 1 which'is hereinafter referred to as ahousing, is fabricated from a steel backplate 2 welded to a top seatingplate 3 and two-spaced sideplates 4 which do not extend for the fulldepth of the backplate 2 and which are spaced inwardly of the sides ofthe latter. The central assembly 5 is slidable between the sideplates 4and has a locating body 6 of said truncated cylindrical shape, with theshaft 7a of a rotary bolt 7 passing completelythrough the body 6 andjournaled therein. One flat side 8 of the locating body .6 (FIGS. 2 and4) fits against the backplate 2 and has a rectangular projecting block 9which engages in a lower aperture 10 in the backplate 2 whereby tolocate the assembly in the container locating position illustrated inthe drawings. I

The bolt 7 has a head or "anvil" 7b which projects above the locatingbody 6 and has a ridgelike. form which exactly overlies that body in theunlocked position, as shownin the drawings: An operating handle 12attachedto the bottom of the bolt shaft 7a projects horizontallytherefrom and at right angles to the'backplate 2 in the unlockedposition, whereby to give a visual indication of that position. Thehandle 12 passes diametrically through a collar 13 mounted on theboltstem 7a and which engages the bottom surface of the locating body 6for axial location of the bolt 7. A spring-loaded detent ball 14 (FIG.I) mounted in a radial bore 15 adjacent the bottom of the locating body6 is-spring loaded towards the bolt shaft 7a and is engageable with anyone of three peripheral recesses 16 in that shaft whereby to retain the,bolt 7 in the central unlocked position illustrated or in either of twolocking positions displaced 90 either side of the unlocked position. Thelocking position of the bolt head 7b is shown in broken lines in FIG. 2.

The assembly 5 is retained against the backplate 2 by a circular lockingbar l7'which extends horizontally and through generally vertical slots18 in the sideplates 4. At each projecting end the locking bar 17 has aradial flange 19 provided by a welded-on collarthe result being adumbbell-like shape which is captive in the housing. The bar I7 is afree but close fit at the bottom ends of the slots:l8, to which it isurged by gravity to define the locking position illustrated in thedrawings. In this locking position the bar 17 engages the adjacent side20 of the locating body 6, whereby to retain the latter against thebackplate 2 and maintain the engagement of the projection 9 in theaperture 10. The upper ends of the slots 18 are of enlarged width awayfrom the backplate 2 as clearly shown in FIG. 2, to provide what couldbe termed an asymmetric keyhole shape, and the bar l7gcan be lifted byhand into the enlarged ends 18a of the slots to define the unlockedposition. 1

The seating plate 3 has an aperture 22 in the form of a cross whichprovides a sliding fit for the locating body on one axis and on theother axis provides clearance for the bolt 7b if the assembly 5 isdropped down with the bolt 7 in the locking position. The backplate 2has an upper edge aperture 23 which is open at the top, and thus if theassembly 5 is dropped with the bolt 7 in the locking position the anvil7b passes through the seating plate 3 and engages the bottom edge of thebackplate aperture 23, thereby to retain the assembly 5 in a retractedposition. To allow such movement of the assembly 5 the locking bar isfirst lifted to the unlocked position in the ends 18a of the slots 18,and this allows clearance for the assembly 5 to be tilted within thehousing 1 sufficiently for the projection 9 to be disengaged from andclear the aperture 10 whereupon the assembly 5 can drop down to theretracted position. In this position, as shown in FIG. 4, the projection9 engages below the backplate 2 and the assembly 5 is retained onrelease of the locking bar 17 which drops back under gravity to thelocking position.

Means are provided to ensure that the center assembly 5 must be loweredwithin the housing 1 with the bolt 7 in a locking position. The resultis to preclude any possibility of the assembly dropping out accidentallyor being removed inadvertently as when the bolthead 7b has been loweredinto the i the unlocked position u' ntil the assembly 5 has first beenraised to bring the head 7b above the housing I. To this. end a safetybar 24 in the form of a steel strip'is disposed horizontally across thefront of the housing 1 immediately above the bolt handle 12, this barhaving up-turnd end portions 25 which are respectively welded to theinner'sides of-the sideplates 4. If an attempt is made to lower theassembly 5 with the bolt 7 in the unlocked position, i.e. with thehandle l2 projecting at right angles to the backplate 2 below the safetybar 24, the handle fouls the bar 24 before the assembly 5 has beentilted sufficiently within the housing 1 for the projection 9 to leavethe engaged backplate'aperture 10. However, when the handle 12 is turnedto one or other side to a locking position it no longer passes beneaththe safety bar 24 and the necessary tilting movement of the assembly 5to allow the latter to be lowered is not impeded. v v

It will be appreciated that the described embodiment provides aconstruction which .can be such that the presence of the safety bar 24provides a completely captive assembly 5 which cannot be removedalthough it is fully'retractable when desired. However, if it isrequired that the assembly 5 should be removable, while the safety bar24 still prevents accidental removal by ensuring that the assembly 5must belowered with the bolt 7 in a locking position, this can beachieved in either of two ways. The first of these is to dimension theparts so that the assembly 5 can be partially lowered with the bolt 7 ina locking position and so that while the bolt head v7b is still abovethe top of the housing 1 there issufflcient clearance below the safetybar 24 for the bolthandleto betumed back to the unlocked position withthe assembly 5 still in its tilted position within the housing; when thebolt 7' is returned to the unlocked position in this manner the assemblycan be completely withdrawn downwardly from the housing. The second wayof achieving a removable assembly involves a slight modification is thatthe upper aperture 24 in the backplate 2 is made sufficientlywide, atleast at an appropriate position, to allow the bolt-head 7b to be turnedto the unlocked position after the assembly 5 has been lowered into thehousing I with the bolt 7 in a locking position.

In addition to the obvious advantages 'of a central assembly 5 which canbe desired be completely removable but yet cannot be removedinadvertently or fall out accidentally, and which can be retained in theretracted position shown in F IG. 5 within a housing through which.water and dirt can pass and hence does not collect, the described devicehas the additional advantage that the bolt shaft 7a isfsupported withinthe locating body 6. over substantially its whole length. This providesmaximum strength and rigidity, bearing in mind that a shaft of largediameter can be used. An inset grease nipple 25 fitted to the locatingbody 5 provides for simultaneous greasing not only of the bolt shaft7a-but also the spring-loaded detent l4 arrangement.

The vertical clearance of the projection 9 within the backplate aperture10 shown in FIG. 2 has the additional func tion of allowing the centralassembly 5 to float vertically when in the locating and lockingposition. In its locating position the bolt head 7b has the correctclearance'with respect to the seating plate 3 to suit a standardcontainer corner bracket, and the ability of the complete assembly tolift through approximately one-fourth inch allows flexing of thetransport vehicle, when travelling over uneven surfaces, withoutimposing serious. strain on the vehicle or the container. This is aparticularly im portant feature with a container transporter in whichthe locating devices are mounted not on a flatbed but on outrig gers.Another advantage of the described construction is that it issymmetrical about a centerline at right angles to the backplate. Thusall the parts are unhanded" and the same device can be used at eitherside of a vehicle.

We claim:

l. A locating and locking device for fitting to a freight containertransport vehicle, comprising a mounting body for fitting to the vehicleand within which is housed a container locating body from the upper endof which projects the head of a rotary locking bolt mounted in thelocating body, the bolt being rotatable manually between locking andunlocked positions and the locating body being movable within thehousing between two levels, namely an upper level providing a locatingposition in which it projects above the housing and a lower levelproviding a retracted position below the upper surface of the mountingbody, the mounting body being formed on one side for engagement with theadjacent side of the locating body to retain the latter in the locatingposition, and means which act to retain the locating body towards saidside of the mounting body in order to maintain said engagement therewithand which are manually operable to allow the locating body to bedisengaged for movement in the mounting body between said locating andretracted positions.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said engagement of themounting and locating bodies is provided by a recess or aperture in themounting body and a projection on the locating body.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the mounting body is a steelfabrication with a backplate utilized for mounting purposes and which isalso formed with said recess or aperture.

4. A device according to claim I, wherein the means which act to retainthe locating body comprise a locking bar or rod which extendshorizontally and laterally of the locating body, which bar or rod isurged by gravity to a lower retaining position and liftable by hand toan upper inoperative position in which it provides adequate clearancefor the locating body to be disengaged from retaining engagement withthe mounting body and retracted therein.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the means which act to retainthe locating body comprise a rotary locking shaft which operates in themanner of an eccentric and engages the locating body on the side thereofremote from the retaining engagement of the latter with the mountingbody.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the locking bolt has anoperating handle which projects horizontally at the lower end of thebolt.

7. A device according to claim 2, wherein the side of the body formedwith said recess or aperture has a second recess or aperture which isengaged to locate the locating body in the retracted position.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the locating body, lockingbolt and locking handle or handles are completely removable from themounting body as an assembly.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein on removal the assembly dropsout through the bottom of the mounting body and means are provided whichprevent removal of the assembly in one movement.

10. A device according to claim 6. wherein the assembly is retractedinto the mounting body with the locking bolt in the locking positionwhen the head of the bolt engages the mounting body to retain theassembly therein, and said means preventing complete removal in onemovement comprise an abutment which fouls the bolt handle when the boltis in the locking position in the event of an attempt to move theassembly within the mounting body sufficiently to clear the retainingengagement operative to retain the assembly in the locating position.

1. A locating and locking device for fitting to a freight containertransport vehicle, comprising a mounting body for fitting to the vehicleand within which is housed a container locating body from the upper endof which projects the head of a rotary locking bolt mounted in thelocating body, the bolt being rotatable manually between locking andunlocked positions and the locating body being movable within thehousing between two levels, namely an upper level providing a locatingposition in which it projects above the housing and a lower levelproviding a retracted position below the upper surface of the mountingbody, the mounting body being formed on one side for engagement with theadjacent side of the locating body to retain the latter in the locatingposition, and means which act to retain the locating body towards saidside of the mounting body in order to maintain said engagement therewithand which are manually operable to allow the locating body to bedisengaged for movement in the mounting body between said locating andretracted positions.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidengagement of the mounting and locating bodies is provided by a recEssor aperture in the mounting body and a projection on the locating body.3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the mounting body is a steelfabrication with a backplate utilized for mounting purposes and which isalso formed with said recess or aperture.
 4. A device according to claim1, wherein the means which act to retain the locating body comprise alocking bar or rod which extends horizontally and laterally of thelocating body, which bar or rod is urged by gravity to a lower retainingposition and liftable by hand to an upper inoperative position in whichit provides adequate clearance for the locating body to be disengagedfrom retaining engagement with the mounting body and retracted therein.5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the means which act to retainthe locating body comprise a rotary locking shaft which operates in themanner of an eccentric and engages the locating body on the side thereofremote from the retaining engagement of the latter with the mountingbody.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the locking bolt has anoperating handle which projects horizontally at the lower end of thebolt.
 7. A device according to claim 2, wherein the side of the bodyformed with said recess or aperture has a second recess or aperturewhich is engaged to locate the locating body in the retracted position.8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the locating body, lockingbolt and locking handle or handles are completely removable from themounting body as an assembly.
 9. A device according to claim 8, whereinon removal the assembly drops out through the bottom of the mountingbody and means are provided which prevent removal of the assembly in onemovement.
 10. A device according to claim 6, wherein the assembly isretracted into the mounting body with the locking bolt in the lockingposition when the head of the bolt engages the mounting body to retainthe assembly therein, and said means preventing complete removal in onemovement comprise an abutment which fouls the bolt handle when the boltis in the locking position in the event of an attempt to move theassembly within the mounting body sufficiently to clear the retainingengagement operative to retain the assembly in the locating position.